Collapsible pull out sofa beds



Nov. 27, 1962 A. J. KATZ COLLAPSIBLE PULL OUT SOFA BEDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 11, 1960 INVENTOR. ALEX J KATZ A TTOENE'X United States Patent Ofiflce 3,065,474 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 3,665,474 @QLLAPSIBLE PULL OUT SQQIFA BEDS Alex 5. Katz, Grange, N..l., assignor to Super Sagless Spring Corporation, Bayonne, NJL, a corporation of New .iersey Filed Aug. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 49,87 12 Ciaims. (Cl. 13)

This invention relates to collapsible pull out sofa beds.

An object of this invention is to provide a bed of the character described having highly improved means to lock the foot and fold sections of the bed against movement, in the fully folded position of the bed until the intermediate section is first moved relative to the head section.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bed of the character described comprising a frame, a folding bed connected thereto and foldable therein, said folding bed being so constructedas to have greater length when extended, and yet being foldable into a standard sized sofa frame for the folding sections.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a foldable pull out bed of the character described in which one of the folding sections is in a position inclined to the horizontal when the bed is fully folded into the sofa frame.

' Still another object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable pull out bed construction of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, comfortable to use and which shall yet be practical and efficient to a high degree;

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 1 is a partial top plan view of one side only of the head end of a pull-out bed embodying the invention, shown in extended or pulled out position;

FIG. 1a is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the tail end of the bed;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 1, but also showing part of the wood sofa frame;

FIG. 2a is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 1a;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the sofa bed with two of the sections of the bed folded and also showing part of the wood sofa frame, partly in cross-section; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the bed fully folded into the sofa frame.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, designates a pull-out bed construction embodying the invention. The same comprises a sofa frame 11 having a front wall 12, a backrest wall 13, side walls 14, front legs 15, rear legs 16, front side arms 17, backrest side walls 18, a transverse cross bar 19 connecting the front portions of the backrest side walls, and bottom frame portions 2% at the lower ends of the side walls 14.

In the drawing, only one longitudinal half of the fold able bed is shown, the same being the near side of the bed, and only the supporting structure for said half is shown, it being understood that the bed and its supporting structure is symmetrical about its longitudinal, vertical midsectional plane. The sofa frame is also symmetrical about said vertical plane.

The supporting structure for the folding bed comprises plates 21 (only the one on the near side is shown) fixed as by screws or other fasteners 22 to the insides of sofa frame side walls 14.

Fixed to and contacting the inner face of support plate 21, as by rivets 23, is an upwardly and rearwardly inclined bracket 24 comprising a main portion 24a, having a lower end 25 extending below said plate and below portion 20. Extension 25 has an inwardly offset flange 26 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. At the upper end of portion 24a, is an inwardly extending web 27 from which extends upwardly a flange 28.

The upper ends of brackets 24 are disposed just behind the cross-bar 19. Pivoted to each flange 28 as by pivot 29, is a bent arm 30 disposed in a vertical plane at the inner side of said flange, and having (in the extended position of the bed) a downwardly and forwardly inclined portion 30a from which extends a forwardly curved portion 30b, and extending therefrom is a horizontal portion 30c.

Also pivoted to each flange 28 on a pivot 31 disposed above and forwardly of pivot 29, is a hooked arm 32. Said arm 32 has an upper end flange 33 contacting the inside of flange '28 and receiving the rivet 31. Extending from flange 33 is an inwardly offset portion 34 from which extends down, a portion 35 disposed in a plane inward of the plane of arm 30. Extending forwardly from portion 35 is a portion 36 disposed above portion 30c of arm 30;;v Extending from said portion 36 is an end portion 37 carrying a pivot 38 disposed forwardly of a pivot 39 on the forward end of said portion 30c. Pivots 38, 39 are horizontally aligned when the bed is extended, as shown in FIGS. 2, 2a.

Pivoted to the pivots 38, 39, on both sides of the bed,-

43a, respectively. Arms 32 are at the inside of flanges 41b, while arms 30 are at the outside. Inthe pulled-out condition of the bed, side members 41 are in horizontal position. Their forward ends project forwardly beyond the cross-bar 43.

Pivoted to the forward ends of flanges 41b of side-- members 41, as by pivots 45, is an intermediate section 46 comprising parallel, angular side members 47 each having bottom, inwardly extending flanges 47a and outer,

upwardly extending flanges 47b. Flanges 47a, 47b are below and outside of flanges 41a, 41b, respectively, of members 41. Pivots 45 pivot flanges 47b to flanges 41b. Section 46 is horizontal when the bed is extended.

Attached to flanges 47a of side members 47 of inter- A mediate section 46, back of the forward ends of said side members, are angle shaped brackets, 48. Each bracket 48 has a top outwardly extending flange 48a contacting the underside of a flange 47a and riveted thereto by rivets 49, and an outer, downwardly extending flange 48b projecting below flange 47a. Pivoted to said flanges 485 as by pivot pins 50 are rear legs 51. Each rear leg 51 is of angular transverse cross-section having a rear inwardly extending flange 51a and an outer forwardly extending flange 51b. Flanges 51a of the legs 51 are inter-connected by a cross-brace member 52 which comprises a tube portion 52a having its ends 52b flattened and riveted, as by rivets 53, to said leg flanges 521a. Member 52 is located below section 46, as shown in the drawing.

Pivoted to the front ends of flanges 47b of side members 47 (which project beyond the flanges 47a), is a short foid section 55 comprising side members 56 of The side angle cross-section and disposed horizontally when the bed is extended. Each side member 56 has a horizontal, inwardly extending flange 56a above flange 47a, and a flange 56b in a vertical plane, inside of flange 47b and pivoted thereto by pivot pin 57.

Pivoted to the front end of the fold section 55, is a foot section 69- comprising side members 61 of angle cross-section. Each member 61 has a bottom inwardly extending flange 61a and an outer, upwardly extending flange 61b. Flanges 61a are just below flanges 56a, and flanges 61b are just outside of flanges 56b, and pivoted thereto by pivot pins 62.. Flanges 61b extend rearwardly beyond flanges 61a. The front ends of flanges 61a are interconnected by cross-brace 63 comprising tube 63a flattened at its ends as at 63b and riveted to said flanges by rivets 63c.

The end members 42 and 63 and the side members 41, 47, 56 and 61 constitute a rectangular frame, when the bed is fully extended. A bed spring 64- for said rectangular frame may comprise usual wires 64a connected together and by coil tension springs 64b in the well known manner.

Pivoted to the outer sides of flanges 61b of side members 61, rearw-ardly of the forward ends of the latter, as by pivot pins 65, are forward legs 66. Legs 66 have upper extensions 66a, extending above the side members 61. Pivoted to the upper ends of extensions 66a, as by pivots pins 67, are front leg links 68. Each link 68, when the bed is extended, has a rearwardly and upwardly long inclined portion 68a from which extends downwardly and rear-wardly a short arm 66b, the lower end of which is pivoted to the outside of flange 56b, as by pivot 69, rearwardly of pivot 62. With this construction, when the foot section 60 is swung up relative to the fold section 55, about pivot pins 62, legs 66 will swing in a clockwise direction (FIG. 2a) toward the foot section.

Means is provided to swing the rear legs 511 in a clockwise direct'ion-toward the intermediate section, 46, upon moving the bed from the position of FIG. 3 to the position of FIG. 4. (-FIG. 3 shows the bed after the foot section has been swung up relative to the fold section, and after both said sections have then been swung about pivot pins 57 to a position where the foot section 60 overlies the intermediate section 46.) To this end there is pivoted to the outer sides of flanges 47b, as by pivots 70 located about equal distances from the ends of side members 47, bell-crank levers 71. Each lever 71 has a downwardly extending arm 71a (in the extended position of the bed) inclined somewhat forwardly and rearwardly extending ar-m 71b, inclined somewhat upwardly. Connecting the lower end of each 'arm 71a, as by pivot pin 72, with a leg 51, is a link 73. Link 73 is inclined somewhat downwardly and forwandly and is pivoted by pivot pin 74 to leg 51, somewhat below cross-brace 52.

Pivoted to the inner side of each side plate 21 as by pivot pin 75 is a bell crank lever 76 having an upwardly and forwardly inclined long arm 76a (with the bed extended) pivoted at its upper end, as by pivot 77, to the rear end of arm 71b of lever 71. Lever 76 also has an upwardly and rearwardly inclined short arm 76b. Pivoted to the rear end of each arm 76, as by pivot pin 78, is a link 79 which is inclined downwardly and rearwardly in the extended position of the bed. Fixed to the inside of each plate 21, rearwardly of lever 76, as by rivets -80, is a stop bar 8d projecting down below said plate and provided at its lower end with an offset finger 81a contacted by link 79. The lower end of each of said links 79 is connected by a coil tension spring 82 to an eye 33 passing through a suitable hole 84 in offset flange 26 at the lower end of fixed member 24 and screwed to a nut engaging said flange. The springs 82 pull links 79 against fingers 81a of bars 31 in the positions of FIGS. 1 and 3.

Pivoted to each arm 71b of bell crank 71, as by pivot 4 85 located between pivots 7t? and 77, is the forward end of a link 36. Each link 86 is pivoted at its rear end, as by pivot pin 87, to flange 41b of side member 41, rearwardly of pivot Q 5.

in moving the bed from the position of FIG. 3 to that of FIG. 4 members 39, 32 swing in a clockwise direction, thereby swinging head section til from a horizontal po-' sition forwardly of fixed member as, to a dowr'iw-ardly and forwardly inclined position rear of said fixed mem her. At the same time, intermediate section 46 moves downwardly and rearwardly into the sofa frame 11 to a position inclined upwardly and forwardly, as shown in FIG. 4. During such motion, links 86 will swing levers 71 in a clockwise direction relative to section 46, thereby causing legs 51 (through links '73) to swing to the underside of section 46, and also causing levers 76 to swing in a counter-clockwise direction (looking at FIGS. 3 and 4) whereby to tension springs 32 and to pull links 79 away from bars 81 and into alignment with said springs.

The bed can be extended to a greater horizontal length, because the rear end of the head section 40 can move from a position spaced forwardly of and below the upper end of fixed member 24 to a position spaced equally rearwardly thereof and at the level of said upper end; because in the fully folded position of the bed, said head section is inclined downwardly and forwardly and hence can be longer; and because, in said fully folded or col lapsed position, the intermediate section is inclined for wardly and upwardly and hence can be made longer. Notwithstanding the increased extended length of the bed, said bed can nevertheless be fully and easily collapsed into a normal sized sofa frame.

Means is provided to lock the foot and fold sections of the bed, in the fully collapsed position of the bed, to keep a folded mattress in between the foot and inter mediate sections, unless the bed is first moved from the position of FIG. 4 back to the position of FIG. 3. To this end there is pivoted to each rear leg 51, as on pivot pin 90 located above pivot 74-, an arm 91, inclined up= wardly and rearwardly, in the extended position of the bed. Each arm 91 is formed with a longitudinal slot 91a. Pivoted to the outer side of each flange 47b, rearwardly of pivot pin 57, as by pivot 92, is a lever 93, m clined upwardly and forwardly in the extended position of the bed. Said lever 93 has a short rear arm 93a carrying a headed pin 94 slidably received in slot 91a of arm 91 and located at the upper end of said slot when the bed is extended. Each lever 93 also has a forwardly extending long arm 93b. Pivoted to the forward end of arm 93b as by pivot 95 is one end of a link 96 which is inclined forwardly and downwardly and is pivoted by pivot pin 97 to flange 61b of side member 61, forwardly of pivot pin 62. An intermediate portion of each link 96 is connected to an intermediate portion of fold section 55 by a link 98. Each link 98 is pivoted as at 99 to link 96, and as at 100 to flange 56a of side member 56 of fold section 55.

As the foot section 60 is first folded up relative to the fold section 55, links 96 will cause levers 93 to be swung in a counter-clockwise direction, looking at FIG. 2a, thereby causing slotted arms 91 to swing in a clockwise direction, and causing links 98 to swing in a counterclockwise direction. This motion is continued as the upraised foot section, together with the fold section 55 swing together to the position of FIG. 3. In such position, arm 91 is almost vertical and pin 94 has moved to the bottom of slot 9111.

Upon raising the foot section 60 relative to the fold section 55, extensions 96w at the rear ends of links 96 will strike shoulder rivets 100a on the flanges 61b of side members 61 to limit further angular movement of the foot section relative to said fold section. In this position, the foot section is less than 90 relative to the fold section. The links 98 which connect said links 96 to the fold section limit further downward movement between the foot and fold sections. :In the position of FIG. 3, with the foot and fold sections fully swung together about the forward end of the intermediate section the fold section makes an angle of more than 90 relative to the intermediate section. Since pin 94 is at the lower end of slot 91a, further movement of the foot section down toward the intermediate section, is prevented by lever 93 which acts as a strut between the lower end of slot 91a and link 96 which cannot move up because it is connected by link 98 to the fold section. The angles which the foot section and intermediate section make with the fold section, combined are greater than 180.

During movement the bed from the partly collapsed position of FIG. 3 to the fully collapsed position of FIG. 4, pins 94 move into alignment with the pivot pins 50 for the rear legs 51, and slotted arms 91 are in alignment with said legs, and said legs and arms swing about the axes of said pins 94 and pivots 50 in a clockwise direction. In the fully collapsedposition of the bed, the foot section cannot be raised because the link 98 holds link 96 which in turn is pivoted to said foot sections at 97, and at 95 to lever 93 which is connected to the intermediate section 46 by pivot pin 92. Only when the bed is moved from the position of FIG. 4 back to the position of FIG. 3, and slotted arms 91 have moved back to vertical position, can levers 93 be swung in a counterclockwise direction (by first swinging the slotted arms in a clockwise direction) to permit lifting of the foot section.

In the fully collapsed position of the bed, the intermediate section 46, as stated above, is inclined forwardly and upwardly, the fold section 55 is somewhat inclined forwardly and upwardly, and the foot section is horizontal. Thus a compressed mattress within the fully folded bed cannot raise up the foot section which is locked in down position.

A drop board 120 may be provided for the bed. Said drop board rests on top of wall 12 of the sofa frame in alignment therewith, in the fully collapsed position of the bed. Said dropboard 120 is carried by angle shaped brackets 121 riveted to links 122. The forward ends of links 122 are connected by links 123 to pivot pin 97. The rear ends of links 122 are connected by links 124 to intermediate portions of arms 93b of levers 93. The connection of links 124 to links 122 is by means of pivot pins 125, and to levers 93, is by means of pivots pins 126. Links 130 are pivoted at their upper ends as by pivots 131 to flanges 56b of side members 56 of the fold section 55, and at their lower ends to the pivot pins 125. In the extended position of the bed, links 122 and drop board 120 are parallel to and spaced below the fold section 55. When the bed is collapsed, links 122 are brought close to the fold section by raising of the foot section and by raising of arm 93b of lever 93. Links 130 may be notched as at 1300 to receive or straddle pivots 100. Also their lower ends may be connected by a transverse brace 158 comprising a tube 158a having flattened ends 15% riveted as by rivets 1580 to offset feet 158d of said links.

As the bed is fully collapsed the drop board 120 will move to vertical position resting on top of wall 12.

If desired, the drop board instead of being attached to the bed by the linkage described, may be fixed by brackets directly to the fold section, by means of angle brackets such as brackets 121. In such event, the cross brace 158 would be replaced by a cross-brace connecting the side members 56 of fold section 55.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an apparatus in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that 6 all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In combination, a frame, a bed head section, a bed intermediate section pivoted at its rear end to the forward end of the head section, a bed fold section pivoted at its rear end to the forward end of the intermediate section, a bed foot section pivoted at its rear end to the forward end of the fold section, said sections being adapted to be in a common horizontal plane when said sections are extended, first links, each pivoted at one end to the rear end of the head section and at its other end end to the frame, and second links, each pivoted at one end to the head section, and at the other end to the frame, in combination with front legs pivoted to said foot section, rear legs pivoted to said intermediate section, first levers each pivoted to the intermediate section and having a rearwardly extending arm, second levers pivoted to the frame, each having an upwardly and forwardly extending arm pivoted to the rearwardly extending arm of one of the first levers, and a rearwardly extending arm, means including a coil tension spring connecting the rearwardly extending arm of each ofthe second levers to the frame, links each connecting a rearwardly extending arm of one of the first levers with the head section, said first levers each having a downwardly extending arm, a third link connecting the downwardly extending arm of each of the first levers with a rear leg, below its pivotal connection to the intermediate'section, said front legs each'having an upward extension extending above the foot section, and fourth links connecting said upward extensions with said fold section, an arm formed with a longitudinal slot and pivoted to each of said rear legs, third levers pivoted to said intermediate section and each having a rearwardly extending arrn provided with a pin slidable in the slot of one of said arms, each third lever having a forwardly extending arm connected by a fifth link to the foot section, and sixth links, each connecting said one of said fifth links with the fold section.

2. The combination of claim 1, in combination with means on the foot section, engageable with means on the fifth links to limit relative movement between said fifth links and said foot section, as the foot section is raised about its pivot to the fold section.

3. The combination of claim 2, said sixth links being of such length as to limit movement of the foot section relative to the fold section when the engaging means on the foot section and the means on the fifth links interengage, and to hold said foot section at an angle less than to the fold section when said engaging means and the means on the fifth links interengage.

4. The combination of claim 3, the slots in each of the arms being so located and the pins on the third levers and in said slots being so located on said third levers that when said pins are at the lower ends of said slots, said pins are substantially centered with the pivotal connection of said rear legs with said intermediate section.

5. The combination of claim 4, the third levers being of such length as to hold the intermediate section at an angle of more than 90 to the fold section when the pins are at the lower ends of said slots.

6. In combination, a bed head section, a bed intermediate section pivoted at its rear end to the forward end of the head section, a bed fold section pivoted at its rear end to the forward end of said intermediate section, a bed foot section pivoted at its rear end to the forward end of the fold section, a rear leg pivoted to said intermediate section, an arm pivoted to said leg and having a longitudinal slot, a lever pivoted to said intermediate section, means on one arm of the lever having sliding engagement within said slot, a first link pivoted to the foot section and pivoted to another arm of said lever, and a second link pivoted to said fold section and to said first link, and interengaging means on the first link and foot section to limit movement at said first link relative to said foot section in one direction.

7 The combination of claim 6, the lower end of said slot being spaced from the pivotal connection of said arm to the leg the same distance as the pivotal connection of the leg to said intermediate section issp'aced from said pivotal connection of the arm to said leg.

8. The combination of claim 6, said second link being of a length to hold said foot section atv an angle of less than 90 to said fold section, when said interengaging means on the foot section and first link are intcrengagcd.

9. The combination of claim 8, said other arm of said lever being of such length as to hold the fold section at an angle of more than 90 to the intermediate section when said means on the first arm of the lever is at the bottom of said slot and said interengaging means on said first link and foot section are interengaged.

10. In a collapsible bed, a support, a head section, means to connect the head section to said support, an intermediate section pivoted to said head section, a fold section pivoted to said intermediate section, a foot section pivoted to said fold section, a rear leg pivoted to said intermediate section, an arm'pivoted to said leg and formed with a slot, a lever pivoted to said intermediate section and having an arm provided with a pin slidable in said slot, a first link pivoted to said foot section and also pivoted to another arm of said lever, and a second link pivoted to said fold section and to the first link between the pivotal connections of said first link to said foot section and other arm of saidlever.

1,1, The combination of claim 10, in combination with a second lever pivoted to said intermediate section and having an arm connected by a link to said rear leg, a third lever pivoted to said support and having an arm pivoted to another arm of the second lever, spring means to connect another arm of said third lever with said support, and a link connecting the other arm of the second lever with the head section.

12. The combination of claim '11, said first link and foot section having inter-engaging stop means to limit rotation of said first link relative to said foot section, the lower end of the slot being spaced from the pivotal point of said slotted arm by a distance equal to the distance separating the pivotal connection of the leg to the intermediate section from the pivotal connection of said slotted arm to said leg, the length of said other arm of the first lever, and the length of the second link being such as to retain the fold section at an angle of more than to the intermediatesection, and the foot section at an angle of less than 90 to the fold section.

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